Michelle Payne becomes first female jockey to win Melbourne Cup

It’s called the race that stops a nation and when the nation did stop at 3pm on Tuesday, it witnessed history being made as Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in the race’s storied 155-year history.

Payne guided the New Zealand-bred Prince of Penzance to victory in a stunning ride at a sunny Flemington Racecourse that upset a host of more-fancied contenders.

Prince of Penzance started as a rank outsider yet made light of the 100-1 odds with a late move down the home straight, holding off the fast-finishing Max Dynamite by three-quarters of a length to secure victory. Criterion came in third.

“It’s like a dream come true, this horse is awesome,” Payne said. “What he has been through, unbelievable training to get him here like this today. This is everybody’s dream as a jockey in Australia and now probably the world.

“My sister Margaret and I both had a feeling we would win this race. It’s such a chauvinistic sport, a lot of the owners wanted to kick me off. Everyone else can get stuffed [who] think women aren’t good enough.”

Of his history-making jockey, trainer Weir said, “I couldn’t thank her enough. What a beautiful ride and what a great family.”

A cloud was cast over the celebrations though, as Melbourne Cup veteran Red Cadeaux, a three-times runner-up and a popular horse at Flemington, failed to finish and was taken from the track in an ambulance at the end of the race.

Flemington Racecourse later confirmed that the English-trained stayer incurred a suspected fetlock injury and was taken to the veterinary clinic for assessment. The other 23 horses finished the 3,200m course.

Japanese horse Fame Game, one of 11 foreign raiders on the start list, was the pre-race favourite, ahead of Trip to Paris, who finished fourth, and Preferment.

Fame Game, who had drifted in the immediate run-up to the race, never looked like justifying his price and finished 13th. Big Orange, who led the race by as much as two lengths early on, took fifth place with Gust of Wind in sixth. (The Guardian)